Sunday, July 6, 2014

Arriving back at the Inn at Eagle Hill, among the folks of Stony Ridge, is like going back to where you once lived.

You see familiar places, reunite with old friends, and are flooded with memories. I have so enjoyed reading all of the Amish novels by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

In the latest novel, The Revealing, the third in The Inn at Eagle Hill series, we conclude the story that has been building since the first page of The Letters. We meet up with the Schrock family in book 1, and finally in book # 3 we find closure with many of the mysteries that we have wondered about in all three books!!

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a master of developing characters you want to grow closer to, learn more about, and follow as they face challenges and struggles. Not only are the characters delightful, the twists in the plot keep you turning pages. I have thoroughly enjoyed each of Ms. Fisher’s Amish Novels, and I have anxiously read each one, eager to solve the mystery and see the relationships blossom.

One of my favorite parts of all three books has been the character Mim, or Miriam. She has managed to become an advice columnist in the local newspaper at the age of 12! I love seeing her replies to the many questions people pose to her, but I also love watching her get all spun up about her relationship with Danny. While Mim and Danny have grown closer in the past stories, in this one Danny is her teacher and their relationship is very strained. In the end, Mim learns to trust Danny, despite how things appear.

If you are looking for a book that will keep you interested, but also lift your spirits, look no further!! I do suggest you start with book #1 in this series though, as the story is best read in order. However, there is plenty of review if you start with The Revealing – so don’t miss it!!

About the Book:

Naomi King, soft spoken, loyal, and easily overlooked, has a gift. She sees what others can't see. Intuition, she calls it. Others in Stoney Ridge don't know what to make of it and dismiss her hunches and inklings altogether. When a young woman arrives at the Inn at Eagle Hill with a shocking secret about Tobe Schrock, Naomi fears the worst. She can't ignore the feeling that something sinister is at work--- something more than a threat to the tenuous love begun between her and Tobe. As signs mount, they begin to point to Jake Hertzler, the elusive mastermind behind Schrock Investments' downfall. Soon, events spiral hopelessly out of control and Naomi must decide whether to listen to her head or her heart. In this riveting conclusion to The Inn at Eagle Hill series, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher pulls out all the stops with a fast-paced tale of deception, revelation, and just the right dose of romance.

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Inn at Eagle Hill series, Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of a new Amish children's series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She is a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California.

NOTE : I was offered a copy of The Revealing, in exchange for an honest review by Litfuse.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

My boys have been fans since my oldest was about 4 years old. He would listen at night when it was on the radio and he loved it! I loved that is helped him relax after a busy day, but I also loved the truths that Odyssey teaches!

So, fast forward 9 years and my little girl has suddenly become a devoted fan of Odyssey. However, it is not on the radio anymore!! Bummer!

So what am I to do? I have all the free podcasts downloaded, but I think she has heard them all. So I was beyond thrilled when offered a chance to check out the OAC for 3 months and then share what I think!!

So far we have loved hearing new episodes! We can download 5 at a time onto my phone and then we can listen in the car. There is an APP (of course there is) that allows you to listen when you have wifi too. So I have enjoyed scrolling through and checking out episodes I want to listen to.

My most favorite thing though, is the Adventure Challenge!! OAC has partnered with Compassion International!! We love Compassion!! So I cannot wait for a day when we can listen to both episodes of an adventure in Uganda! Then you watch a video about sponsorship, then there is a webquest adventure followed by a chance to share your story!

If this does not sound like a perfect family devotion night, I am not sure what would!! I hope that my family will carve out some time to do this over the coming weekend! I think it will spark some great discussions!

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Colleen Coble has written another great novel!! I loved Tidewater Inn almost 2 years ago, and I thoroughly enjoyed Seagrass Pier too!

The setting of these fast paced romantic novels takes place on the coast of North Carolina. Colleen has a gift in the way she illustrates a place in your mind, one that you have never seen and yet can imagine with perfect clarity! I feel like I am on the islands of the Outer Banks, I can almost feel and smell the sea breeze! I think that is one of my favorite things about her books, she takes you there, immerses you in the beauty!

I love the characters too, as the main character Elin is adjusting to a healthy life after a heart transplant, her challenges were intriguing. I am not sure how real cell memory is, where a patient has memories from the person whose organs they received. However, the story was so interesting as Elin struggled with her new self.

The thriller part of the book kept my attention as well. There is someone stalking Elin and her daughter and we are never quite sure who it is or why until the very end!

This is a great summer read, but one that might keep you up to finish the last page!

I enjoyed this book just as much as I did Tidewater Inn. I enjoy Colleen’s writing style and her stories and I look forward to reading more by her in the future!!

About the Book :

Readers have really loved my Hope Beach series, and the 3rd book is coming in July! There is a pre-sale campaign going on, and you can get the digital version for only $4.99 if you order before the release date. And click this link to win a Kindle! So don’t miss out on the great deal! Here is the back cover copy:

In a secluded corner of Hope Beach, one woman must decipher a stranger’s memories . . . before they cost her everything.

Elin Summerall was one of the lucky ones. Not only did she get a heart transplant, but the donor was a perfect fit. A miraculously perfect fit.

But when Elin begins having violent flashbacks—and vivid dreams of being strangled—she realizes that she has been the recipient of more than just a new heart . . . Elin is remembering her donor’s murder.

Her strange affliction has attracted some unwanted attention: from the press, from the authorities . . . and from the killer himself. Now, living alone with her young daughter and aging mother, Elin is being stalked—by a man she’s only met in her nightmares.

The police are dubious of her story, but one off-duty FBI agent is eager to help her: Agent Marc Everton.

Now, in a remote cottage on Hope Island, Elin and Marc must probe the secrets buried in her borrowed heart. And there’s no time to waste. One man is desperate to silence her—before she remembers too much.

NOTE : I was offered a copy of Seagrass Pier in exchange for an honest review, by LitFuse.

About Me

I spend my days teaching my 4 kids to love God and love education. You will usually catch us with a book in our hands, playing in the garden, or cooking in the kitchen! We love this country life we jumped into in 2010! This blog is where we share our life adventures and the things we are passionate about!!